[Closed] R.I.P. Crank Bros Candy 3. 18/04/2016 - 02/06/2016

good to see their "tested by animals" marketing hasn't cascaded to their design or manufacturing depts...

handy rebuild guide for CB pedals here

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Not fit for purpose. Got the small claims route if you have to.

handy rebuild guide for CB pedals here

I like! Would like to see Time included as well, but I like!

Re the XC8s, mine are faultless, as expected. No issues on upstroke that I've noticed. Occasional squeaking with my S-Works shoes, which I can't quite trace, but it's only very rare and not that annoying.

"handy rebuild guide for CB pedals here"

Lol! That guide should be issued with every pair of Crank Bros pedals. 😆

EDIT: Just worked out that I have a pair of Shimano SPD 515s from about 2003. Could even be earlier. Never serviced yet feel fine. Even better, I think they were the same pair a friend gave me (they came with a new bike he'd bought and he used Times), so I didn't even pay for them. Win! 😀

Quite clearly you hadn't undertook the daily servicing that is required. Love the pedals when they work, just got fed up with broken pedals, because I clearly didn't rebuild them weekly.

Warranty and or ask for a refund?

why do people keep buying their crap?

why do people keep buying their crap?

Pretty boxes....look at the pretty boxes....in pretty colours.
[img] [/img]

6 whole weeks! Sounds like the promises of improved reliability actually have been delivered after all.

(I love my crank bros bars though, they have exactly the right amount of moving parts for a crank bros product)

I don't understand how people have all these issues.

oohhh, pretty..

wait....stop...I see what you did there.

[quote=nickc ]why do people keep buying their [s]crap[/s] pedals?
Because, despite the lazy meme, lots of folk get on really well with them. I run Candys on all my bikes. I reckon the oldest set have done over 10,000km and have been serviced once.

Not fit for purpose. Got the small claims route if you have to.

Someone should really start an online petition as well. Maybe get a hashtag trending.

Because, despite the lazy meme, [s]lots of folk[/s] just me get on really well with them

fixed it, etc etc, no need to thank me.

It's a mystery why anyne still buys these pedals when Times are available.

I really like the Candy's, feel good and really light - trouble is I went through 3 pairs in a year...

Went back to 540's, got a pair on each bike, been on 4 years now of twice-weekly riding...

Conversation overhead in bike shop 5 years ago, "crank bros? As long as it's got no moving parts you're OK"

Nothing changes...

I got some SPD's (emphasis on the S) on my 16 birthday. They still work. I was 33 this year.

I really like my cb pedals. They have been no more unreliable than any other pedal I've owned flat or clip. I've broken most types at one stage...

#oldguysneedfloat

Who are the crank brothers anyway, are they actual peopl?

Which version were they?
I swapped from Shimano to CB last CX season for improved mud shedding as I was fed up of not being able to clip in when it got sticky during races.
I've got them on two bikes, one did 18 races, the other 14 & both are still buttery smooth despite jet washing after every race & 3/4 times during each race for the second half of the season.

Shimano must have a poor idea of business strategy compared to Crank Bros. I have two pairs of DX646 spd pedal that, quite frankly, I'm bored of. They're 17 years old and have not needed more that 1 service since I've had them.

They're a bit grumbly but still spinning freely. Boring. Boring. I wish I had some of those new spangly 'short shelf life' pedals. I love bike parts that are engineered to look great.

I think I've said this before. One of the first upgrades I did on my 1998 M2 was a pair of SPD 959s (after a review by Shaun in ST). Seemed super expensive. That must have been - 2001? They're still on the bike, still running, after years of abuse. No service.

CB Candy 1 on my CX bike. 8 years old, never serviced, 6-7000 miles.

Today was the first time they've felt a bit sticky. They are interfering with clipping in with my new shoes.

I've no issues with confidence with CB pedals. I think I'll go and order some Eggbeaters.

😉

Which version were they?

The [i]3[/i] with a MRRP of £100!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've always liked the Crank Bros feel of their pedals, the float and the soft engagement, i din't like Shimanos mechanical feel and click in/out.

I got given the Ti axle Candys years ago, they never [i]failed[/i], but did get loose, so i'd rebuild them until the next time. Over the years i realized i could pick up the pedals brand new from eBay for less than the price of a rebuild kit, and thus i accumulated a collection of Candys (& Look) in varying stages of wear and brokenness (eggbeaters missing from pic).

[img][url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7135/27423260505_f399151362_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7135/27423260505_f399151362_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HMinWi ]2016-06-02_09-50-13[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]

I recently tried to move away from the Candys and tried out some Look S-Track, but they needed shimming which in turn my knees didn't like (#oldguysneedfloat), so i took another punt on the "improved" Candy 3 - but after 6 weeks of use, no more, thats truly pants & unreliable.

I'm thinking Time XC8.

Egg beater Sl's getting on for 7 years old, never serviced - absolutely fine.
Egg beater 11 ti's got to be at least 4 years old, serviced twice - absolutely fine.
Just thought I'd mention it..

"why do people keep buying their crap"

Lol

I buy their crap because they are light, have a good amount of float,I find them easy to clip into and they shed mud really well. Oh and they are low maintenance!

Oh and they are low maintenance!

Eggbeater SLs were on all my MTB bikes for around 8 years. 4 sets, never serviced, never broken.

On the other side of that, I've have a set of Acids, a set of Mallets and a set of Cadys that all died within a season.

I now have 8 sets of Time pedals 🙂

I'm a sucker for Candys.
My current set are 3s, are 2.5 years old and do 100 miles of road commuting a week. They have just been serviced for the second time as the inboard roller bearing disintegrated without warning! Same problem as last time...
It shouldn't happen but I don't care because they're fab.

#****bros

"That certainly applies to the OP's pair. Absolutely none required and straight back for a refund."

Very witty!

Return under warranty, that's what it's for.
Candy 3's here 2 years + no issues.

I've had Candys and Eggbeaters for around 10 years and have had few problems with them. My look keo classic pedals on the road bike went before my original Candy pedals. As scotroutes said, there's a lazy meme because of some really poor longevity occasionally; if all their pedals died after a few weeks they'd be out of business.

I have some old style Time ATACs (2009 and 2011 vintage); I only changed the tension on both from minimum to medium last year or so - not sure if the springs went slack or if I started to like them tighter.

I think thats about the age of my cheapest Candies...

Anyway for the OP just send them back to be swapped. Most people choose to ignore the major and minor redesign in the last few years. The earlier ones did suffer but the newer ones are much better internally. All companies have bad batches and to bin something rather than return under warranty is stupid, it's one of the good things about buying new.

I'm just about to retire the XTR SPD's on my CX bike they've done at least 8200 miles (but I think they did several thousand miles on the previous CX bike too).
I've never even looked at the bearings in that time but the cages are now so worn that they rattle, even with new cleats and they're starting to unclip randomly.

At least CB stuff comes in a nice cardboard coffin in which to send them back in!

I don't think they have ever made a product that lasts.

I also don't think they ever read their reviews either. The comments on Pinkbike about their latest dropper post are a good summary of all they make.

Another vote for Time ATAC here,had mine for 11 year's no problem.

Cue the kiss of death for them. 😕

+1 #oldguysneedfloat apart from an early set of Ritcheys I've ridden eggbeaters since they were introduced. Never had a problem. Keep them greased and they are fine. And my knees still work too.

Just to clarify, I've always loved the Candy feel, despite their reputation as flawed, and I've never had a ride stopper of a failure before, just extra play, splayed cages (from rock strikes), and I've rebuilt many sets (rebuild kits no longer available for the older Candy SL types of pedal - except a diy version via eBay USA). I bit the bullet on the Candy 3 with its "improved" bearing design, only to have a bad experience far too early on. It's just resonated all the negatives about longevity, so I'm going back to Time after many years away as I want reliability & float (#oldguysneedfloat). Anyone want to buy some Candy 3 pedals? Only 6 weeks old...

[quote=qwerty ] Anyone want to buy some Candy 3 pedals? Only 6 weeks old...What colour of box are they in?

I got some SPD's (emphasis on the S) on my 16 birthday. They still work. I was 33 this year.

So did I. I was 38 this year...

I thought I'd written them off about 15 years ago when I smacked one hard into a rock and bent the mechanism. Bent it back with a large screwdriver and a hammer, and they've been fine ever since.

Eggbeaters on both MTBs. Newest are about 10 years old. Greased regularly and the older pair (2002?) have had two rebuilds.

They aren't fit and forget like Shimano and engagement can be a faff during on /off hikey bikey but.... despite never quite trusting their reliability, I stick with them because they inflict zero knee pain, unlike every Shimano SPD pedal I have ever ridden.

Do Time or any other brands combine CB Eggbeater float with Shimano reliability?

Do Time combine CB Eggbeater float with Shimano reliability?

- I believe that's the gist of it -

Do Time or any other brands combine CB Eggbeater float with Shimano reliability?

Time ATAC's cleats have around 5 degree's of float, but the cleats are handed to increase the release point. As for reliability, they are excellent, I've been running two pairs for 11 years and haven't serviced them yet.

kcal - Member

I think I've said this before. One of the first upgrades I did on my 1998 M2 was a pair of SPD 959s (after a review by Shaun in ST). Seemed super expensive. That must have been - 2001? They're still on the bike, still running, after years of abuse. No service.

Same. 959's I got back in 2003. Not touched them. 1000's of miles, all over the world.

Thanks, if original Eggbeater SLs can no longer be serviced, then I'll need to buy something new anyway.

I bought some as my knee's aren't the best, they were great, so I bought another pair. The first then died and shortly after the second one did too.

I think Shortcut actually shouted something like "crank bros pedals" up the line of trolls, in the same way most people would shout "puncture", because frankly they fail about as often as most people get punctures.

Replaced them with the new shiny alloy bodied version thinking that maybe I was just being too tightfisted buying the cheap ones. Those lasted even less time.

Do Time combine CB Eggbeater float with Shimano reliability?

Eventually the cleat springs wear to an unusable point

One set of mine are getting close - you can pull your foot out if you have worn cleats on them but my newest set are fine in them

Probably about 15 years old and thousands and thousands of miles use

My road ones are like new as i dont clip in and unclip very often

Time - knee-friendly floaty reliableness.

Every pair of CB pedals I've had died. Two sets of Eggs, a set of Mallets and their flats. No idea why I kept buying their garbage products. So I stopped.

Keep the Ol' Crank-brothers-stuff-breaks meme going kids... it means a greater availability of cheap CB kit for the rest of us.. 😎

Keep the Ol' Crank-brothers-stuff-breaks meme going kids... it means a greater availability of cheap CB kit for the rest of us..

You're welcome to it.

Around 8 years ago I promised myself that I'd treat myself to some triple ti eggbeaters if I could get my weight below the recommended maximum rider weight.

I am now floating around that weight (and could remain under it if I really cared anymore), but rides with people running them have put me off, shiny floaty and light as they are. It's not the reliability per se, it's the fact that a frequent failure mode is the pedal body unscrewing itself from the axle.

I loved the original Eggbeaters - never had a problem. Rebuild every 2 years or so - perfect.
The new ones however...
Gone through 4 sets of pedals on 2 bikes in a year - including a rebuild (Egg Beater 3 and Candy 3)!
The rebuild can only do so much - what gets them in the end is the wear to the bars and pedal body.

So I made the leap to Time a few weeks ago.

[b]The good[/b]
Float is good - no knee issues.
Reliability is meant to be better - we'll see.
Nice positive click in and out.
Confidence inspiring level of security - similar to brand new Candy on brand new shoes.

[b]The bad[/b]
XC pedals feel like a very narrow point of contact with shoe - fine when pedalling, a bit disconcerting when descending off road on a cross bike.
MX version is pretty grippy and supportive, but is much less distinct in terms of where to put your foot for clipping in. Not quite got used to it yet.
Mine came with 'easy' cleats which means I'm stuck with the hard setting. Would have liked to try the medium setting which only comes on the normal cleats.
Weight is a lot more than Candys.
MX Mud performance is nowhere near as good.

"Keep the Ol' Crank-brothers-stuff-breaks meme going kids... it means a greater availability of cheap CB kit for the rest of us.. "

It's not cheap though is it? CB stuff is sold at price points you'd expect a premium product for, and they're not. They're cheap crap.

"triple ti eggbeaters"

Lad I worked with bought a pair, they were astronomically expensive for a pair of pedals. 3 weeks they lasted. 😆

Lad I worked with bought a pair, they were astronomically expensive for a pair of pedals.

But look! Shiny thing in shiny box!

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Who are the crank brothers anyway, are they actual peopl?

Oo I know that! It's a portmanteau of the founders' names, eg Craig and Frank (that bit I don't know nor care). Doubt they're brothers though.

I've had all the CBs models at some point or other and the only crap ones were the Quattros. I bought the original candys when they came out and they've still got life in them despite being powerwashed and barely maintained.

I've killed a few pairs of candys and eggbeaters and switched to Atacs. Time pedals come in a [i]tin[/i], although it's not as colourful as the CB boxes.

[img] [/img]

I swore I'd never buy another CB product after their headset fell apart in a similar timescale to the OPs pedals

But CRC keep doing stems and the like dirt cheap

£15 for an Iodine stem in fashionable 55mm length, natch, even came in a fancy box

Just as long as no one moves from these to XTR M980 race pedals with the incredibly short life, no rebuild kit and spontaneously detaching pedal body.

The Ritcheys are good were it not for the fact that 1 in 1,000 unclips gets hung up on my shoe. Can no longer risk them.

XTM780s - much more reliable apart from 2 that needed servicing and bearing float adjusting after the first ride.

Pedals seem to get a hard life

I like Egg beaters and I normally get a decent life out of them.

But in the end after 3-4 years I always find the engagement becomes loose.

There's no way of tightening it is there ?

The rebuild for the pedals is just for the bearings isnt it

There's no way of tightening it is there ?

2Pure fitted new springs to a pair of mine after I ****ted them. Extra are current distributor so try them. Special spring tools needed.

qwerty -
Special spring tools needed.

You got sold a lie there.

Springs on CB pedals are only under compression when you're clipping in, or try to unclip.

Assemble the spring and wings, place in body, slide the central shaft section in.

No tools required.

Body wear on Candy pedals is the main issue for me recently. They last about a year before the body is so worn my shoes wobble about on them, defeating the point of having the bigger body.

There's no way of tightening it is there ?

Time pedals come in a tin, although it's not as colourful as the CB boxes.